🖨 3D Printer Radar

Bambu Lab A1vsBambu Lab P2S

💰Bambu Lab A1 is $150 cheaper (38% less)
Bambu Lab P2S tops out at 600 mm/s vs 500 mm/s
🏠Only Bambu Lab P2S has an enclosure — required for ABS, ASA, PA engineering filaments
Same ecosystem (Bambu Lab): Both printers share the same software, slicer, and filament ecosystem. This is a tier step-up comparison — consider whether the extra features justify the price difference.
Bambu Lab A1
Buy/Wait:Wait

Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

Best for: Makers who want large prints and multicolor capability without an enclosure — ideal for PLA, PETG, and flexible materials.

Full details →
Bambu Lab P2S
Buy/Wait:Buy

Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait

Best for: Serious makers and prosumers who need enclosed printing for ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF, and PC — and want Bambu's plug-and-play experience at a prosumer price.

Full details →
Bambu Lab A1Bambu Lab P2S
Pricing
Starting Price$399$549
Print Specs
TierProsumerProsumer
MotionBedSlingerCoreXY
Build Volume256 × 256 × 256 mm256 × 256 × 256 mm
Max Speed500 mm/s600 mm/s
Multicolor✅ 4 slots✅ 4 slots
Enclosure
Auto Calibration
Open Source
Upgrade Kit
Buy Timing
ReleasedOct 19, 2023Oct 14, 2025
Cycle length~365 days~832 days
Cycle adviceWaitBuy
Deals adviceBuyCaution
Next modelP3S or next prosumer model (Expected late 2027)

Quick Winner

💰
Budget pick
Bambu Lab A1
$399 starting
📐
Large prints
Tie
Fastest prints
Bambu Lab P2S
600 mm/s
🔓
Open ecosystem
Tie

Bottom Line

💰Bambu Lab A1 saves you $150 — choose it if budget is your primary constraint
🏠Bambu Lab P2S is the only choice if you print ABS, ASA, PA, or PC — those materials require an enclosure

Materials

Bambu Lab A1 only
Both
PLAEasy to print, no enclosure needed — everyday parts
PETGTougher, slightly flexible, moisture-resistant
TPUFlexible rubber-like — phone cases, gaskets, wheels
ABSHeat and impact resistant — needs enclosure
Bambu Lab P2S only
ASAUV-stable ABS alternative — outdoor parts, needs enclosure
PANylon — strong and wear-resistant, needs dry storage
PA-CFCarbon-fibre nylon — very stiff, abrasive to standard nozzles
PCPolycarbonate — extremely tough, challenging to print

Why buy each?

Bambu Lab A1

Full AMS multicolor

Unlike the A1 Mini's AMS Lite, the A1 Combo includes the full AMS with support for a wider range of filament types.

256×256×256 mm build volume

The largest build volume available in a Bambu bed-slinger — great for terrain, large cosplay props, and functional parts.

Bambu ecosystem integration

Works with Bambu Studio, Bambu Handy app, and the full Bambu filament ecosystem including multi-material profiles.

Bambu Lab P2S

Improved chamber temperature control

The P2S enclosure maintains a more consistent chamber temperature over the P1S, reducing warping on long ABS and PA prints.

Full material compatibility

PLA through PC — the P2S handles the entire engineering filament spectrum with reliable results.

Bambu's best-selling form factor

The P-series CoreXY enclosure design strikes the best balance of price, speed, and material capability in Bambu's lineup.